Draft-yoke for railway-car draft-rigging.



1,1 36,032, Batenpefl Apr. 20, 1915.

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DRAFT-.YOKE FOR RAILWAY-CAR DRAFT-RIGGING.

T0 ZZ wilma 'it 'muy [foncer-N Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Yokes for Railway-Car Draft-Rigging, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to draft yokes for railway car draft rigging, my object being to generally improve the structure of the ordinary yoke in certain respects to which attention will be hereinafter directed. As is now well known, the Federal safety appliance laws require certain end ladder clearances between the inside face of the coupling knuckles when closed, and the end of the ladder, and it is also well known that there are but few boX or other house cars, and even coal cars, on which the required clearance can be obtained without an expensive change in the draft rigging or in the couplers.

A primary object of my invention is to generally improve draft yokes in respect to strengthand durability, and it is a further 'object to obtain this advantage by such means as will permit the arrangement ofthe draw bar to a position which will conform tothe safety laws mentioned.

iVith the above in mind my invention consists in the specific structure of the draft yoke to be'now describedr in reference to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which,

Figure l is a sectional side elevation illustrating my improved draft yoke and a draw bar in operative connection. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of my improved draft yoke attached. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a draft yoke provided with an intermediate thimble for use with tandem draft gear, and also showing slots for coupler key connection. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section through the forward portion of the' yoke showing a key in position.

Referring to these figures my improved yoke comprises top and bottom members A, A', the yoke being closed at its inner end by the end piece D, and being provided at its front or open end with inturned angular Hanges or lips E. The yoke is also provided at its open end with a web E' arrange at one side, and connecting the ianges E for the purpose to be hereinafter described, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1913.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Serial No. 759,867.

said web being preferably integral therewith.

A spacing block B is arranged transversely between, and connects the top and bottom members A and A at a pointadjacent the open end of the yoke, as clearly seen in the several figures. The top and bottom members A and A are provided in preferable construction with exterior strengthening ribs I", which extend from the outer open endof the yoke to points substantially coincident with the spacing block B, and the topand bottom members, as shown in Figs. l and 2, are further provided with the usual rivet openings F through which the rivets F2 connecting the draw head, (see Fig. l), are secured.

As shown in Fig. 3, the yoke is provided with an intermediate thimble C, which is preferably integral with the members A and A', and whiclrconnects the said members at a point intermediate the spacing block B and the end piece D. The form of yoke illustrated in Fig. 3 is provided with upper and lower slots Fa adapted to receive a coupler key FJl in place of the usual rivets above described, A spacing block B, as shown, is placed a required distance from the front endof the yoke so that the butt of the draw bar fits tightly against it, as illustrated in Fig. 1. and because of this the strain borne by the rivets in usual construction is absorbed by the contactof the butt of the draw bar with the said spacing block. By varying the thickness of the spacing block B and correspondingly lengthening the members A and A the front end of the yoke is forwardly extended without change of the position of the stop members in a draft rigging, and thus the standard draw bar may be forwardly extended to give the required amountA of clearance between connected railway cars so as to conform with the safety laws before mentioned.

In addition to the. desirable features just mentioned the spacing block B also serves to prevent the top and bottom members A and A from spreading, and causing undue strain on the rivets. The spacing block B also cooperates with the web E connecting the inturned fianges E. thus rigidly limiting the open end of the yoke, and thus bracing and supporting the flanges inside. Thus thestrain on the yoke on forward movement of the draw bar is absorbed by the anges E of the yoke through their engagement with the shoulders of the draw bar, and on rearward movement of the draw bar is absorbed through the engagement of the butt of the vdraw bar against the spacing block B.

It will be noted that the ribs F hereinbefore described, which are arranged above the open top and bottom of the yoke and adjacent opposite side, cooperate with the parts before mentioned to strengthen the tum an," bottom members of the yoke, and nrexlenting them from spreading and breaking tle rivets, and permittingdisengagement of the flanges from theshoulders of the draw bar. i

I t will be apparent that the draft yoke construction, herein shown and described, will be of sullicient strength to make it practically impossible to have a draw bar pulled out without an actual' failure of some portion of the yoke owing to a defectn in its manufacture, and it will be appreciated that this will be the means of obviating any accidents 0c-` casioned by thedraw-bar pulling out from the .yoke due to the failure of the connecting rivets, and will be a source of saving to railroad companiesin obviating the great eX- pense of replacing couplers.

I claim z- A draft yoke for railway car draft rigging comprising top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, a spacing block connecting said members near their free ends, said members being provided at their forward ends with in-turned flanges adapted to engage the usual shoulders of a drawbar, said flanges being connected by a web at one end thereof, the yoke being open on both sides between the spacing block and the connecting web.

WILLIAM A. MITCHELL.- Witnesses:

ELEANOR' L. NASH, JOHN A. MARTINKUS. 

